Solar panel module with increased volume of solar production

ABSTRACT

A solar panel module provides increased efficiency in solar production within a volume of area within a space&#39;s square footage. In general, embodiments arrange solar panels into polygonal shaped containers. The containers include inward facing solar cell faces that project orthogonally from a common base. The solar cell faces reflect sunlight captured within the module&#39;s volume and reflect it from one incident solar cell face onto one or more other inward facing surfaces of the plurality of panels joined together to form the polygonally shaped module. Thus, solar energy which is typically reflected off when incident upon a conventional solar panel is recaptured by adjacent panels in the module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application having Ser. No. 62/128,303 filed Mar. 4, 2015,and U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/948,088 filed Nov. 20,2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to renewable energy systems, andmore particularly, to a solar panel module with increased volume ofsolar production.

Currently solar arrays use one solar panel attached to a rack and railsystem. The solar panels are typically positioned end to end in an arrayon a single plane to gather solar energy that passes overhead. Thus theamount of solar production available for a rooftop for example, islimited to the available usable two-dimensional square footage of theroof. Some roofs may have a very limited usable footprint if otherrooftop articles such as ventilation pipes, HVAC systems, chimneys, androofing not facing the path of the sun are present.

As can be seen, there is a need for an efficient solar system that makesthe most of available space.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the subject technology, a solar panelmodule for increasing solar production within a two-dimensional spacecomprises a frame defining a volume of space; a first solar panelcoupled to the frame; a second solar panel coupled to the frame, whereinthe first solar panel and the second solar panel are positioned withinthe frame's volume of space; and a light guide coupled to the frame, thelight guide positioned to direct a light source to at least the secondsolar panel within the frame's volume of space.

According to another embodiment, a solar panel module for increasingsolar production within a two-dimensional space comprises a framedefining a volume of space; a first solar panel coupled to the frame,wherein the first solar panel includes a first top surface of photocellsfacing outward toward a light source; a second solar panel coupled tothe frame, wherein the second solar panel includes a second top surfaceof photocells facing toward a rear surface of the first solar panel, thesecond top surface of photocells being obstructed from view of the lightsource by the first solar panel; and a light guide coupled to aperiphery of the frame and a periphery of the first solar panel, thelight guide positioned to direct the light source to the second topsurface of photocells of the second solar panel within the frame'svolume of space.

According to yet another embodiment, a polygonal solar panel module forincreasing solar production in an area comprises at least three solarpanels arranged to project orthogonally upward from a common base anddefining an open volume of space between the panels, wherein: at leasttwo of the solar panels are coupled together at a joint, and each solarpanel includes a face of solar cells facing inward into the volume ofspace and toward at least one other solar panel's face of solar cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention ismade below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein likenumerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a solar panel module in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the solar panel module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the solar panel module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional perspective view of thesolar panel module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a broken cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 is a broken cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.2.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a solar panel module in accordancewith another exemplary embodiment of the subject technology.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of thesolar panel module of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of thesolar panel module of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example orillustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs.

In general, exemplary embodiments provide a solar panel module thatprovides increased efficiency solar production within a volume of atwo-dimensional space's square footage. Aspects of the subjecttechnology include multiple solar panels within a fixed volume of spaceand guide light to a panel(s) that would be otherwise obstructed fromsolar radiation. As may be appreciated, the footprint for collectingsolar power from fixed square footage may be increased many folddepending on the configuration.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, a solar panel module 15 is shown accordingto an exemplary embodiment. In general, the solar panel module 15includes a frame 10 defining a volume of space. Attached to the frame 10are a first solar panel 14 and a second solar panel 18 in the volume ofspace. In addition, a light guide 25 is coupled to the frame 10 andpositioned to direct a light source 50 (for example solar radiation) toat least the second solar panel 18 within the frame's volume of space.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the frame 10 is a rectangular box.While two solar panels 14 and 18 are shown, it will be understood thatmore than just two panels may be incorporated within the scope ofembodiments contemplated herein. The first solar panel 14 with itsphotovoltaic side or top surface 16 of photocells 17 may be positionedso that the photocells 17 face outward in the direction of the lightsource 50. The second solar panel 18 may be positioned parallel to thefirst solar panel 14. For example, within the frame 10, the second solarpanel 18 may be arranged to sit underneath the first solar panel 14 sothat the photovoltaic side or top surface 20 of the second solar panel18 faces the rear of the first solar panel 14 and toward the samedirection as the photovoltaic side 16, albeit obstructed from theambient light source 50. Generally, the second solar panel 18 is spacedfrom the first solar panel 14 so that there is room for reflected light50 from the light guide 25 to shine on the photovoltaic side 20 of thesecond solar panel 18. Some embodiments may be configured so that thesecond solar panel 18 is insertable/removable from the frame 10 andheld/accessed by latches 22.

The solar panel module's light guide 25 may include for example, one ormore lenses 24 guiding solar radiation (light 50) to the second solarpanel 18. For example, a plurality of plano-convex lenses 24 may bepositioned around the periphery of the frame 10 (and in someembodiments, the periphery of the solar panel 14) and angled to directlight at the photovoltaic side 20. The lens(es) 24 may be protected by atempered glass cover(s) 52. Some embodiments may include a mirror 26behind the lens(es) 24. The mirror 26 may be a polished metal orreflective glass wall with reflective sides 28 that may surround orframe the perimeter of the second solar panel 18. The mirror 26 may beangled with the top edge extending wider in area than the area of thefirst solar panel 14 and the bottom edge tapers inward toward theedge(s) of the second solar panel 18. Some embodiments may include amirror sheet 30 on the rear of the first solar panel 14 with a mirrorsurface 32 facing the photovoltaic side 20.

In operation, light 50 that is on the periphery of the first solar panel14 which is normally not absorbed and converted may be gathered by thesurrounding light guide 25 and re-directed to the second solar panel 18within the same volume of space. Light incident on the len(es) 24 may befocused and reflected off the mirror 26 to the photovoltaic surface 20of the underlying second solar panel 18. Reflected light that scattersoff the photovoltaic side 20 may be reflected back onto the photovoltaicside 20 (see for example FIG. 5) for solar conversion by the combinationof the reflective surfaces 28 and reflective surface 32 thus harnessingmore light that would otherwise be lost. Some embodiments may includeone or more exhaust ports 12 on the frame 10 so that heat buildup maycirculate out from the space between the first solar panel 14 and thesecond solar panel 18 (see FIG. 6). Some embodiments may also use theexhaust ports 12 as an opening for output wiring 54 that will beconnected to a grid (not shown). The lenses 24 may be approximately 2¾″,the light guide 25 opening may be approximately 3¼″, the overall framesize may be approximately 4′×6′, the flat area of the top of the framefor the lens guide may be approximately between 4″ to 5″ wide. As willbe appreciated, while the footprint of the light guide 25 capturing thelight on the periphery of the first solar panel 14 is much smaller thanthe footprint of the unobstructed first solar panel 14, the solargeneration of the second solar panel 18 is nearly as productive as thefirst solar panel 14. Tests show that the second solar panel 18 mayproduce between 85% to 95% efficiency (with an average efficiency ofabout 90%) of the output of the first solar panel 14. Thus, solargeneration may be nearly doubled using just two solar panels within thesame volume of space. As may be appreciated, aspects of the subjecttechnology may further increase the solar production within a volume ofspace using a light guide to direct ambient light to more than two solarpanels.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, another exemplary embodiment of a solarpanel module 34 (referred to in general as module 34) is shown using anopen-faced polygon arrangement. As may be appreciated, aspects of thesubject technology allow for a variety of polygonal volume arrangementsso that multiple solar panels 40 are framed within the same volume ofspace to receive light incident on or proximate to the two dimensionalsquare occupied by the module increasing the amount of solar energyconverted. The module 34 may include a plurality of walls 41 joinedtogether to form a polygon. A solar panel 40 may be included onrespective walls 41 so that the photovoltaic side 43 of each wall facesinward and toward at least a portion of one other wall. In theembodiment shown, the module 34 is a cube-shaped frame with four solarpanels 40. A light guide 48 (for example a lens) may capture solarradiation and direct to the interior of the frame and onto thephotovoltaic surfaces 40. Some embodiments may include interior mirroredcorners 46 (supported by gussets 44) at the junction of walls and areflective bottom surface 42. Referring to FIG. 8, in operation, lightbeams 50 may enter through the lens 48 and may be directly incident ontothe plurality of photovoltaic surfaces 40 or may reflect off of thereflective surface 42 and mirrored corners 46 to provide increased lightabsorption for solar conversion.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous designconfigurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of theinventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations andarrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of thepresent invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below ratherthan narrowed by the embodiments described above. For example, referringnow to FIG. 10, a solar panel module 36 may use a triangularcross-section instead of a cube shape so that light entering the top ofthe module 36 may bounce around onto a plurality of solar panels 40 forincreased solar conversion. FIG. 11 shows another embodiment using arectangular cross-section for a solar panel module 38 that operatessimilar to the module 34 but with shorter and longer paths of reflectionbefore absorption and conversion is achieved.

Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and thelike as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to anarbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitationalframe of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a frontsurface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally,or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. Similarly, anitem disposed above another item may be located above or below the otheritem along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction; and an itemdisposed below another item may be located below or above the other itemalong a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A polygonal solar panel module for increasingsolar production in an area, comprising: at least three solar panelsarranged to project orthogonally upward from a common base defining anempty and unobstructed open volume of space between the at least threesolar panels, wherein the at least three solar panels form athree-dimensional polygon around the empty and unobstructed open volumeof space, wherein: each solar panel of the at least three solar panelsare coupled together to two adjacent solar panels of the at least threesolar panels at joints that are orthogonal from the common base with theempty and unobstructed open volume of space among at least three joints,and each solar panel of the at least three solar panels includes a faceof solar cells facing inward into the empty and unobstructed open volumeof space and toward at least one face of solar cells of other solarpanels.
 2. The polygonal solar panel module of claim 1, furthercomprising a lens coupled to an open end of the at least three solarpanels, the lens disposed to direct sunlight into the empty andunobstructed open volume of space and to at least two of the at leastthree solar panels.
 3. The polygonal solar panel module of claim 2,further comprising an angled mirror corner on at least one of thejoints, the angled mirror corner disposed to reflect the sunlight towardone or more faces of the solar cells.
 4. The solar polygonal panelmodule of claim 3, further comprising a reflective bottom surface at abottom of the empty and unobstructed open volume of space, wherein thereflective bottom surface and the angled mirror corner reflect thesunlight from the lens to the solar cells.
 5. The polygonal solar panelmodule of claim 1, wherein the at least three solar panels are arrangedin an open-ended triangle prism.
 6. The polygonal solar panel module ofclaim 1, wherein the at least three solar panels are arranged in anopen-ended rectangular prism.
 7. A polygonal solar panel module forincreasing solar production in an area, comprising: at least three solarpanels arranged to project orthogonally upward from a common base anddefining an open volume of space between the panels, wherein: at leasttwo solar panels of the at least three solar panels are coupled togetherat a joint, and each solar panel of the at least three solar panelsincludes a face of solar cells facing inward into the open volume ofspace and toward at least one face of solar cells of other solar panels;and a lens coupled to an open end of the at least three solar panels,the lens disposed to direct sunlight into the open volume of space andto at least two of the at least three solar panels.